Gene Locklear, one of the region’s most
successful artists and athletes, began work October 17 on an art academy
for young people at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Artist Gene Locklear speaks to an audience at his exhibition and
sale at UNCP.

A San Diego, Cal., resident, Locklear and UNCP’s Foundation staged
an exhibition and art sale at the Givens Performing Arts Center to raise
money for the project, which would train some of the state’s youngest
art talent.

“I’ve been able to fulfill all my dreams in life as a baseball
player and as an artist,” Locklear said. “I still have dreams.”

“I cherish the experiences I had growing up in Pembroke and treasure
the land, people and rich heritage of the area,” he said. “It
is appropriate to come back here to the University because this is where
I had my first art show at age six or seven.”

“Our hope is that new generations will be inspired, as I was, by
this special place, its precious legacy and the rich cultural experiences
it has to offer,” he said.

The show and sale, which featured 22 of Locklear’s original works,
was the result of collaboration between Locklear and Chancellor Allen
C. Meadors. Locklear said he hoped it would become an annual event.

One painting, “A Beautiful Dancer,” was auctioned for $500.
Two golf umbrellas, with original signed sketches, were auctioned for
$475.

On display were Southern and Western landscapes and American Indian and
sports artwork. Locklear’s work has been displayed at the White
House, the Pentagon, sporting events and in many public and commercial
buildings.

At the reception –
Dr. Martin Brooks, seated and
Jesse Oxendine

Before taking up art full time, Locklear enjoyed a 10-year
career in Major League Baseball, playing with the Cincinnati Reds,
New York Yankees
and finally the San Diego Padres. He was known as an outstanding
hitter, batting .321 in 1975 for the Padres.

Several of Locklear’s oldest friends, including Larry Tatman of
California, Glenn Kupferman of Florida and Dr. Martin Brooks of Pembroke,
were on hand for the exhibition.

“Gene Locklear is a man who works with his hands, his heart and
his soul,” Dr. Brooks said. “I’ve known Gene all his
life, and he has stayed focused on the talent you see here today.”

Local artist and retired banker Lee Warner said Locklear has continued
to grow as an artist.

“I met him when he was playing baseball. He’s an old friend
and fellow artist,” Warner said. “Some of his pieces are intriguing
because they mean so much to us in Robeson County.”

“He has done well and continued to work on his talent,” he
said. “Gene has branched out too into sports art which is very popular.”

Ben Chavis, a Robeson native who traveled from Oakland, Cal., to the
exhibit, has been a collector of Locklear’s art for many years.

“We go way back, but Gene asked us to come today, and I could not
resist,” Chavis said. “I probably have more of his art than
anyone. It means a lot to me.”

Walter Bull, committee member for the exhibition and sale, said the purpose
of the art academy is to identify and provide training for young North
Carolina artists.

“When I first met with Chancellor Meadors on this project, I thought
it was a great idea,” Bull said. Gene Locklear has come back to
his roots.”

“Gene’s idea is to find those young folks – seven,
eight and nine-year olds – who have native talent and to nurture
that talent,” he said. “The objective of the art academy is
to establish a camp to give young people a chance to work with professional
artists who will encourage them.”

Members of the art exhibition sale advisory committee included Dr. Martin
Brooks and Arlie Jacobs of Pembroke, Judy Lowery and Jesse Oxendine of
Charlotte, Breeden Blackwell of Fayetteville and Vance Houston of Rock
Hill, S.C.